My family is headed on some road-trips this month and I plan to bring my Maggie with us on some. Dog safety and comfort while traveling are so important. So I was excited to see that FetchDog is giving 20% off all travel gear right now. Some of my favorite travel products that they offer include this great bucket dog car seat cover (to keep your dog comfortable and your car in great shape!). The soft microvelvet fabric resists hair, stains and odors and the cover is machine washable!
I also love the Kibbles to Go dog travel bowl. This smart container packs up to 2 qts. of kibbles and has twist-off water and food dishes on the ends. Made of airtight food grade plastic with a convenient carry handle.
To receive 20% off, use code ECT3929 by Tuesday, August 4th at Midnight. Enjoy!
I guess it was just a matter of time. There is now an airways dedicated solely to transporting pets - introducing PetAirways! The idea for PetAirways was inspired by a Jack Russel Terrier. Zoe's family liked to take her along on their vacations, but air travel was always a hassle as Zoe was too big to fit in a carrier under the seat, and her family were not willing to put her amongst the cargo! So, instead of trying to convince the human airlines to treat pets better, Zoe's humans decided to start up an airline just for pets. And Pet Airways was born.
PetAirway's philosophy is simple, "On Pet Airways, your pets aren't packages, they're "pawsengers." And every step of the journey, we'll take care of them as if they were our own."
Find out about how PetAirways flies your pet, ticket prices (eg. just $150 from NY to Los Angeles - one way), destinations & routes and much more on their website: http://www.petairways.com/
I remember when I first got my dog, he was so little that I was able to pop him in a dog tote bag and take him with me wherever I went. People loved seeing his little head sticking out of the bag and I do believe, that he enjoyed seeing everyone and walking around the city.
If you are looking for a way to tote your furry friend around, you should look into getting a Fundle from Gramercy Pet. Essentially, the Fundle is a sling that your dog fits into comfortably. The strap is adjustable, so that, you too, are comfortable carrying your pet. What I like most about the Fundle, is that because you wear it across your chest, your hands free. The Fundle comes with side pockets for keys, cell phone and treats, as well as, cushions on the top for a headrest. We wouldn't want your baby to go without one of those now would we?
There are a lot of other cool features to the Fundle. Check out the website, and if you need or know of someone who might be interested in a Fundle, tell them about the Gramercy Pet website. Happy traveling!
So here's the scenario. It's a beautiful day and you and your furry, best friend decide to go to the dog park. You get there, your dog is having the time of his or her life and suddenly, thirst sets in. But wait, you realize that you only have a water bottle that you brought for yourself. What do you do?
Here's your solution. The Tazlab Aqua-Fur Bowl. This is the bowl to have, if you and your pooch are out and about. The Aqua-Fur bowl is a silicon bowl that looks like a regular dog bowl, but easily folds up into something that looks like origami and is so portable.
The Tazlab Aqua-Fur Bowl is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, it doesn't leak or wet out. It also holds 1 liter of water and weighs only 8 ounces. Need I say more?
Tazlab also makes these great collars that can actually safe your pet's life if caught in a life threatening situation. The collars are called Safe-T-Stretch. When the collars are not clipped with a leash, dogs able to slip free out of the collar if they need to. The collars come in all different collars and sizes.
When surfing around on the Tazlab.com website, be sure to click on the video icon to see just how the bowl and collars work. They are very informative and useful. I needed a quick tutorial on how to fold up the Aqua-Fur bowl. Now, it's a breeze.
At checkout, be sure to enter the code "SWANKY" for 20% off your order.
Where I live in Philadelphia there is a law regarding all pets: they must be registered and licensed. This entails filling out a form and paying a fee in return for another form to prove that, yes, your dog is legal (yawn). The folks at YappyHappy.com came up with a resourceful and fun interpretation of pet permits. At this site you can order a unique kind of dog tag that is, in fact, a license.
These tags are charming and highly functional. They provide your pet with a lot more information than the traditional metal ID tags, which usually only offer a name and phone number. These miniature “barking” licenses give all the facts—breed, first and last name, address and phone number, height and weight, and of course, like any other form of identification, your dog’s picture. And, because these tags are made of durable plastic, they don’t clang against the metal fixtures on your canine’s collar. This then eliminates that annoying noise that accompanies your pet’s every step, a noise that is most likely even more bothersome to the collar-wearer whose hearing tends to be super-sonic.
But unique and original dog tags are not the only items Yappyhappy.com has to offer. Following the layout of your state's driver's license are also water-resistant pet mats. These are perfect to place under your dog's food or water bowl, as they make clean-up easy while adding a sense of humor to your kitchen floor.
Yappyhappy.com can also create personalized tote bags, magnets, key chains and luggage tags.
Also, check out http://yappyhappy.etsy.com/ for other unique ideas like custom dog collages, hand-made bird houses, and, my personal favorite, the Fairy Dog Bottle-Cap necklace.
These pieces are one-of-a-kind, and you have the freedom to choose your favorite colors and backgrounds. A great gift idea.
To order a Yappy Happy barking license, pet mat, tote bag etc. you’ll need to upload the most flattering head-on mug shot of your dog. Select the state you reside in (all are available), fill out all the pertinent information and send it. Your new dog license will arrive in the mail in a few days.
Check out my Pearl sporting her Yappy Happy license.
Picture this: on your day off you wake to a clear, bright sky. Your first thought: beach day. To confirm, you hop online and click the weather report. Sunny. Temperatures reaching up into the 90's.
Surely this is a confirmed beach day. If you don't go you'll sit around wishing you did.
You proceed to gather all of the beach necessities (shades, a good read, sun oil and block), step into your swimsuit, and head out.
But here is where you meet your first obstacle. [Your dog's name here] is parked in front of the door, blocking your exit to paradise with the my-owner-is-leaving-it's-the-end-of-the-world face. For many pet owners this look doesn't just indicate a guilty walk to the car. It means a urine soaked carpet, complaints of a shrill and unending bark, and quite possibly a destroyed couch. You now must decide which is more important: your tan or your living room.
Unfortunately, our pets don't speak English, so attempting to tell your dog that you'll "only be gone for the day," offers him or her absolutely no comfort. Your pet has watched you gather up stuff and move throughout the house, and has deduced that you are leaving, but has no idea as to when you will return home. This provokes anxiety which in turn leads to destructive behavior: the cushion-less couch is quite simply an expression of your dog's fear and stress.
So it seems as though, until either dogs learn to speak English or humans begin to bark, there is really no solution to this very big problem. Not so. A few savvy veterinarians developed a product called Comfort Zone® which, believe it or not, creates an atmosphere of safety and security for your pet.
Comfort Zone® is a plug-in air diffuser that lasts 30 days and covers up to 650 square feet. You simply plug in the room where your animal spends most of his or her time. Here's how it works: humans and animals alike both produce and react to pheromones. Through research, veterinarians have discovered that there are specific pheromones secreted by the parent animal to help their young cope with fear and stress. Comfort Zone® ingeniously mimics these pheromones to help your dog feel safe and invulnerable, which in turn works to control your pet's destructive impulses.
This product is also available as a spray that can be used inside a crate, on your dog’s collar, in the car etc. You can find Comfort Zone® at most pet stores. Be sure to print the coupon good for $10.00 off your next purchase.
Find a Pet Sitter (and more) online through Sittercity!
Did you know that you can find qualified, screened pet-sitters, dog trainers, groomers, dog walkers, and more on Sittercity? It's simple. Type in your zip code, and you will be able to see a number of people in your neighborhood willing to help you and your pet.
You can see basic information as a non-member, but to see detailed info and to contact sitters, you will need to join. (There is a fee to join, which comes out to about $7.99 per month)
Also note that if you have kids, you can use Sittercity to find qualified babysitters as well.
Check it out and save 10% on your registration fee with code SwankyPup.
Going away for the weekend? Take your dog and go in style!
With the arrival of summer, many of you will be taking summer vacations, hopefully with your pet! Should they be tagging along, make sure they go in style!
I love this new Jet Setter flight carrier. This fabulous roller bag fits perfectly under the seat on an airplane in front of you and can be completely secured as a car seat. Its plush interior is fully removable and machine washable. The sturdy wheels are removable leaving you with an incredibly light 3.25 pound bag! (Only 5 pounds with wheels). This airline approved carrier has lots of pockets for tickets, treats, wallets, magazines and all of your personal and puppy items.
The Jet Setter is great for car travel, too! It easily straps into the shoulder and lap belt to secure your pooch. The bag is made of patterned fabric and trimmed in pleather.
The bag accommodates pets up to 16 pounds, and other colors include: Turquoise, Blush, Titanium, Black, Taupe, Camouflage, Moss or Espresso.
Creature Comforts makes a ton of other bags too, including handbags and day travel bags. They also have cool slings. Check our their amazing line!
As April showers are coming to an end and with the weather getting nicer by the day, you may find yourself enjoying the great outdoors more and more with your pup. If you and your pup enjoy long walks or hikes then a backpack from Ruff Wear is just what you need to start the season off right. Dog backpacks are great for tiring out that high-energy dog or for having your pup lend a hand when you have too much to carry on your next adventure and the Approach Pack has it all.
This backpack boasts attached saddlebags with a weight-forward design, meant to make load carrying easy on your pup, waterproof zippers, reflective trim, and a comfort-fit Web Master Harness to ensure structure, stability and load dispersion. Also, the bag is adjustable so you can make it fit your dog perfectly without affecting his range of motion and it is padded so that it will be very comfortable during both long and short walks.
Whether your dog is carrying a water bottle or some yummy treats for later, giving your dog the job of carrying something for you can be great exercise and can do wonders for a dog’s mental well-being. My dog Baxter has tried out this pack and he did not mind helping me with carrying some light weight supplies on our walk together and he was twice as tired after our short walk, making this perfect for the pup who just never seems to get tired out after a walk. Best of all, I was extremely impressed with the quality construction and thoughtfulness put into the trail-savvy design to make it a practical addition to any hike with your dog.
The Approach Pack has everything your dog will need to ruff it on your next outing together and will keep him comfortable and looking cute too! Available in blue and green and sizes xxsmall to large, this pack can work for dogs of all breeds and sizes. So put your pup to work with this high-quality Approach Pack from Ruff Wear!
With the weather in the northeast becoming nice and warm, our days of being cooped up inside are over. We are either walking in the neighborhood or playing in our other dog friend's yards.
When out with my dog, I make sure now to never leave my house without my dog's newest water bowl from Itzadog.com. These nifty little bowls are called Zuka Bowls, and are just the perfect size for a quick drink or a little something to nibble on. The Zuka Bowls come in two sizes, small and large, and in a wide variety colors and patterns. What I like most about the Zuka Bowl, is that it comes with a handy dandy carabiner that can easily hook onto a belt loop or leash. It can't get much more convenient than that.
Just like us, our furry friends need to be well hydrated in the summer. Make life easy for yourself and your dog, and carry around a Zuka Bowl from Itzadog.com. Your dog will thank you for it.
Want to win a 4 day/3 night vacation? Enter the Canine Celebrity Awards!
Every winter you watch the Academy Awards wishing you could be part of the action. Well, this year you can, ummm, or at least your dog can! Submit a photo or video of your own Celebrity Dog and next year you could be watching in person from the red carpet in Hollywood… or Honolulu… the Virgin Islands or any one of 28 World- Class destinations.
Dogs have been featured in movies, commercials and print ads since before Lassie was a puppy yet they normally don't receive the recognition they deserve. When was the last time a dog accepted an Oscar? (Dog Day Afternoon doesn't count!)
This month when the Academy announces it's nominees for Best Actor, Director and Producer one category will be conspicuously absent. Happytails Canine Spa Line will fill this void by honoring the fluffy set with its Canine Celebrity Awards. There will be two categories Best in Show- Photo and Best in Show- Video but with three winners each whose owners will each receive a vacation package valued at over $1,000.
Dog owners everywhere may begin to submit photos and videos of their own Canine Celebrity along with a short essay on why their dog deserves to win. Visit Happy Tails' website to enter, and check out this You Tube video which tells you more about the contest.
Winners will be announced at the Luxury Pet Pavilion in Los Angeles on Sunday February 24th (Oscar Day) by celebrity judge Lanease Adams, Hollywood actress and one of the bachelorettes on the first season of ABC's "the Bachelor". Have fun and enter today!
I recently got a tour of my local PetSmart PetsHotel and Doggie Day Camp. What a cool place to house your pup when you need to travel or spend extended amounts of time away from home!
The facility was extremely clean and attractive. And it seemed very homey, too. You can get a dog atrium room (complete with lambskin blanket and a poochy cot) or a dog suite (add a TV with pet themed shows!). I like that there are always caregivers there, 24 hours a day. They are each safety-certified and vets are always on call (and some in the store!) There is a 24-hour monitoring system as well.
Some of the other great features include: - extended pick up and drop off hours (including Sundays) - Doggie Day Camp -- all-day play in their play room, is available for extra exercise and socialization - There are separate cat and dog ventilation areas which minimize stress, and the air is circulated 3 times and hour. (And the entire hotel is air conditioned) - Pet drinking water is filtered - Best of all -- there is an area for pet parents to call and speak with their pets!
Additionally, you can have your dog groomed or trained while they stay at the pet hotel.
Rates are $25/night and up. (You can add things like extra play time and extra treats!) Take a video tour and see how neat this concept really is. If you need a place for your pet to stay, I would definitely consider your local PetSmart PetsHotel! (And if you stop by to check it out, pick up a copy of their free 2008 calendar -- it has a ton of coupons in it for grooming, training, and hotel stays)
My family is headed on some road-trips this month and I plan to bring my Maggie with us on some. Dog safety and comfort while traveling are so important. So I was excited to see that FetchDog is giving 20% off all travel gear right now. Some of my favorite travel products that they offer include this great bucket dog car seat cover (to keep your dog comfortable and your car in great shape!). The soft microvelvet fabric resists hair, stains and odors and the cover is machine washable!
